The United States has recorded 5,182 confirmed measles cases so far in 2026, the highest annual figure in 35 years, according to data released by the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC.
The figure, published on Friday, is more than double the 2,289 cases recorded throughout 2025 and represents the highest number reported since 1991.
Health officials across the country have also reported at least eight deaths linked to the disease, including cases involving very young children.
Measles was declared eliminated in the United States in 2000 following successful vaccination campaigns. However, infections have increased in recent years amid falling vaccination rates and growing public distrust of health authorities.
US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for his scepticism about vaccines, has faced criticism over his role in spreading distrust. He has repeatedly shared misinformation about the measles vaccine and played down the risks associated with the disease.
Measles is a highly contagious but preventable disease that causes fever, respiratory symptoms and skin rashes. In severe cases, it can lead to complications such as pneumonia and inflammation of the brain, potentially causing lasting health problems or death.
Before the development of the measles vaccine in the early 1960s, the disease killed hundreds of children in the United States every year.
Although vaccination has significantly reduced its impact in many countries, measles continues to kill tens of thousands of people worldwide.